Razor blade holder for cutting cardboard boxes



. y 1951 D. F. BELL 2,550,757

RAZOR BLADE HOLDER FOR CUTTING CARDBOARD BOXES Filed Feb. 25, 1949 IN VEN TOR.

Jig/4T9 F192 Patented May 1 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE RAZOR BL ADE HOLDER FOR CUTTING CARDBOARD BOXES This invention relates to cutting tools and more particularly to a razor blade holder for cutting cardboard boxes and the like.

It is an object f this-invention to provide a razor blade holding implement of the kind to be more particularly described hereinafter which is formed for enclosing a razor blade in a manner to expose one corner having a cutting edge for cutting engagement with a cardboard box. The length of the cutting edge not being used the main blade portion of the razor blade is adapted to the supported between the side wall to prevent any undue bending or twisting strain from breaking the blade.

Another object of this invention is to provide a razor blade holder within which a razor blade may be slidably supported for extending a corner of the blade when the device is used for cutting, the holder constituting a housing for entirely concealing the cutting edge in the retracted position of the blade. The holder is formed for securely gripping the razor blade while the blade is enclosed therein, and formed for slidingly removing the blade by sliding the blade transversely out of the holder. The formation of the holder is such that the razor blade will not accidently slide from the holder in any position of the blade.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a cutting instrument of this kind which may be readily and elliciently manufactured at a very low cost, being formed of a single piece of fiat sheet metal or the like stamped and bent to the desired shape.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combinaton and details of construction'disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Figure l is a side elevation of a razor blade holder constructed according to an embodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the other side of the holder.

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of the blank from which the holder is formed.

Figure 5 is a vertical transverse section showing, in full lines, the razor blade in its retracted position, and in dotted lines, the razor blade bent for removal from the holder.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral in designates generally a razor blade holder constructed according to an embodiment of my invention, for supporting a razor blade to be used as a cutting instrument for cutting cardboard boxes and the like; The holder is is designed to hold a razor blade, and particularly a single edged razor blade,

5 tended position. In the retracted position of the razor blade within the housing ll] the entire cutting edge of the razor blade is protected so that the cutting edge will not engage any articles or material by the inadvertent use,of the holder. In the extended position of the razor blade, one corner of the razor is exposed from one end of the holder so that a cutting edge of the razor blade thus exposed may be engaged with a cardboard box or other work which is desired to be cut with the razor.

The razor blade holder it is formed of a single blank of material, designated generally by the numeral I in Figure 4. The blank I is adapted to be folded intermediate the width thereof to provide a pair of overlying fiat plates I2 and Hi. When the fiat plates I 2 and Hi are disposed in overlying relation, shown in Figures 1, 2, 3 and, 5 of the drawings, the flat plates constitute a housing open at the ends and along the bottom edge thereof. The housing l5 constitutes the razor blade holder, the panels l2 and I4 forming the side walls of the body.

The holder It is particularly designed for a single edged razor blade l6 having a re-enforcing strip I! along one longitudinal edge thereof opposite from the cutting edge I 8.

The housing i5 is formed with a longitudinal horizontal flat lower edge l9 which extends along the major portion of the length of the body at the bottom thereof and an upwardly and forwardly inclined corner edge 20. Each of the side walls l2 and [4 is similarly formed to provide theedges l9 and 2E). The width of the housing It, and the side walls orpanels l2 and I4 is substantially greater than the width of the razor blade l6, as noted in Figure l, for entirely enclosing the razor blade in its retracted position in the housing.

Both of the side walls, l2 and M, are formed with longitudinally extending grooves 2| and 22, respectively. The grooves 2| and 22 extend through the thickness of the plates l2 and I4 and substantially along the length thereof, at the upper edge of the body l5. In the conforming position of the side walls |2 and M, the longitudinal slots 2| and 22 are disclosed in confronting alignment for transverse registration. The slots 2| and 22 are of a width slightly greater than the width of the reenforcing strip ll, fixed on the upper edge of the razor blade IS. The reenforcing strip or bead I! is adapted to be slidably engaged on the lower edge of the grooves 2| and 22, for slidably supporting the razor blade in the holder Ill.

One side wall, as l2, is formed with a downwardly offset recess or notch at the rear end thereof, the opening or cut-out portion 2 5 at the rear end of the wall i2 is in communication with the longitudinally extending slot 2|, and is of a length at least the same as the length of the 3 razor blade [6. The combined width of the slots 2| and 24 is less than the total width of the razor blade, including the re-inforcing strips IT.

The enlarged opening 24 is provided for the insertion of the razor blade is into the holder l0, and for the removal of the blade by slightly distorting the razor blade in the holder and sliding it transversely out through the groove 2|.

In the use of operation of the razor blade holder [0, the original blank I l formed with the cut-out portions 2|, 22, and 24 is folded transversely along a center line extending between the longitudinally extending grooves or openings 2| and 22. The plates or panels l2 and M are then disposed in overlying relation and connected at the upper end thereof. The grooves 2| and 22 are disposed in transverse registry with each other, and the downwardly ofiset recess 24 is disposed on one side of, and at one end of the body l5.

For engaging the blade I! into the holder Ill, the cutting edge I8 is initially placed between the lower edge of the cut-outs 24, between the side walls I2 and I4. By pressing the re-enforcing edge ll downwardly, the razor blade will be disposed between the side walls l2 and I4, and the re-enforcing edge I! will be engaged on one side in the upper end of the recess 24, and on the lower edge of the longitudinal cut-out, or groove, 22. In this position, the razor blade is is retracted within the holder Ii] so that no cutting edge of the razor blade is exposed. By sliding the razor blade i=6 forwardly, the lower edge of the reenforcing rib I! will ride on the lower edge of the cut-out grooves 21 and 22 for guiding the razor blade forwardly to its extended position.

The razor blade is moved forwardly by depression of the finger of a user.

In the extreme forward or extended position of the blade IS, the forward lower edge of the blade is exposed at the front end of the holder with the front corner of the cutting blade exposed for use in cutting boxes and the like. The holder is adapted to be moved across a surface to be cut from the forward endto the rear so that the frictional engagement of the razor blade with the material to be cut will press the razor blade to its extended position.

For retracting the razor blade into the holder ID, the holder may be moved in a reverse direction, -while in engagement with work to be cut by it whereupon the force will move the ex.- posed corner of the razor blade inwardly of the body IS. The further inward movement of the razor blade to the retracted position may be accomplished by the fingers of an operator en-. gaging the re-enforcing strip ll for moving the blade to its fully retracted position, shown in Figure l of the drawings.

For removing the razor blade from the holder ID, the finger, or finger-nail of a user may be applied to the upper end of the razor blade If; by engaging the finger through a downwardly offset recess 25, intermediate the length of the groove 22. By pressing inwardly on the razor blade I6 through the opening 22, the re-enforcing edge I! is pressed outwardly, out of engagement with the upper edge of the grooves 2i and 22. With the other hand the operator may then grasp the re-enforced edge of the razor blade for drawing the blade upwardly out of the recess or cut-out portion 2A, thereby removing the razor blade from between the side walls 12 and I4 of the holder.

' I do not mean to confine myself to the exact 4 details of construction herein disclosed, but claim all variations falling within the purview of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A'razor blade holder for retractably holding asingle edge razor blade having a reenforcing strip along one longitudinal edge comprising a pair of overlying side walls secured together along one longitudinal edge thereof, said walls having an inclined corner for exposing the cutting edge of a razor blade slidably extended from between said walls, said walls being formed with confronting longitudinal slots having a length greater than the length of a razor blade and within which the reenforcing strip of the razor is adapted to be slidingly engaged for extending and retracting a razor blade between said walls, one of said walls having a downwardly offset recess at one end of said slot through which the razor blade may be engaged for insertion into and removal from said holder.

2. A razor blade holder comprising a pair of overlying flat plates secured together along one longitudinal edge thereof, one of said plates being formed with a longitudinally extending out-out portion at one end thereof through which a razor blade is adapted to be engaged upon sliding transversely of said holder, guide means in said plates adjacent said recess engageable with the razor blade for slidably extending and retracting the blade in said holder upon longitudinal sliding movement, and an upwardly and forwardly ins clined lower front edge on said plates for exposing one corner of the cutting edge of the extended razor blade in said holder.

3. A razor blade holder comprising a body within which a razor blade may be retractably contained, said body being formed with an open corner at one end thereof through which a cutting edge of the razor blade may be extended in the extended position of the blade, longitudinally extending guide means in said body engaging said razor blade on which said razor blade may be extended and retracted, and one side wall of said body being formed with an enlarged longitudinal opening adjacent said guide means having a length at least as great as the length of said razor blade and a width less than the width of theblade through which said blade may be inserted into and removed from said body upon transverse sliding movement.

4. A razor blade holder for a single edge razor blade having a reenforcing strip along one side comprising a pair of overlying side walls secured together along one longitudinal edge thereof, said walls being open at one corner through which a corner of the blade may be extended, said walls being formed with confronting longitudinal slots within which said reenforcing strip is adapted to be slidably engaged for extension and retraction between said walls, one of said walls having a downwardly offset recess at one end of said slot through which the razor blade may be transversely extended for engagement into and removal from said holder, said recess having a length at least as great as the razor blade and a width less than the blade.

DEWEY F. BELL.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Rieger Nov. 4, 1924 Number 

